Monday, October 27, 2008

WILL YOU LOVE JESUS MORE? was a question I asked myself often since I was in 6th grade in a Catholic Church, and decided from my understanding at that time that my answer was"YES, JESUS...I want to love You more, know You more so I will serve You more."

Because I was in a parochial school with nuns(Sisters of St. Joseph), we had a vocational day. It was at this same time that I had seen movies like "Dominique", "The Singing Nun" with Debbie Reynolds and TV show with Sally Fields as "The Flying Nun". Also in my family since I was born, I remember many visits of priests & nuns that came to our home to feast with us. To me, this was how you needed to serve the Lord...to become a nun.

I began that day, as I promised my Lord, to prepare myself for serving Him in a mission field.I believe that is when my personal relationship started with the Lord at my voicing and declaring my personal vow to Him that day. Though I was not taught how to enter into that personal relationship, Jesus came into my life.

Advance many years and a change from Roman Catholic to Evangelical to Pentecostal, I learned all I could to deepen that relationship and served in many ways but knew I was called to GO!Each time, missionaries came and shared, I couldn't wait for the prayer time or altar call for those feeling God tugging on their heart to go. I would support & pray for many missionaries as I waited for my opportunity to come. I even knew it would be Mexico, just not where in Mexico or when. But Our God is a God of details and each year I waited, He prepared me more. Though I do believe that "God does not call the equipped, He equips those He calls!" And HERE I AM!

In the mid 90s, that longing, yearning burned in my heart an URGENCY...many would say...if you wanted others to know Jesus, why doesn't your husband accept Jesus...why aren't you there together? It is a long story. I will spare you, only to say since he is not, but he is my full support here. So to me, he is here and I report to him. I'd love to report to a church or fellow believers, but because I'm not the "norm"...a missionary couple, I cannot and I understand. I also believe that God is still at work in my husband. I believe that all my prayers will never be in vain. My adopted children were both brought up in church, Sundays & Wednesdays and many other times. As I shared before, my son, the month we were adopting them, at the age of 5-6, asked to be baptized and met with the pastor. So, although neither as adults are living for the Lord or perhaps not even in church, I know that good seed was planted. And I continue to pray!

I had the opportunity to prepare a young group to come here on short term in the early 90s. It was too short for me. I needed more. Eventually, God brought that to pass. He also made the place known to me, when I was here on an Easter week vacation. Though I've been in various parts of Mexico since 1996, I always was drawn back to here-Mazatlan "land of the deer". I was here part-time at first...6 months here, 6 months home to work to return again.

Since I love children & was trained as a teacher, I felt THAT must be where God wanted me~ with the children. So I searched for the orphanages here. Mostly cared for by the Catholics.

I'd like you to know that it wasn't until just this last year, after being here most of the year since 2003 until now, I only knew of 2 but knew there were more that existed just not where.I discovered finally Tres Islas Orphanage Fund andHelen, that I wrote about before here...she organizes many charity events to raise funding for"The Forgot-Me-Not Mazatlan Children" along withother excellent organizations here,Hands Across the Border, Friends of Mexico and more.

Mazatlan became a Land of many Opportunities. In addition to this, I discovered right before this discovery that the Assembly of Gods have 22 churches here, which I had never seen one in the phonebook directory. So, I knew of The Vineyard and the great service that they do throughout the community in 21 different colonies of projects and I just kept searching.I became a part of a small church with a big heart and a big mission, Amistad Familiar yet I still visited other churches to see what they were doing. God is not finished with His plan for me here and though I have not been able to do what He placed on my heart on my return trip in 2006, He is at work. I see His Hand.

My first service that I offered was to volunteer at the Salvation Army (Ejercito de Salvacion) back in 1997-98..."El Hogar de Los Niños" (Children's Home)...on the outskirts of Mazatlan, in a small town, Venadillo. These children, however, were not orphans, but lived there throughout the week, and left on weekends.

The other Orphanage was "Ciudad de los Niños", a Catholic Orphanage, taken care of by nuns. I should have felt right at home there but I only visited there once. Actually my very first opportunity was teaching one month of Sunday School in La Zona Dorada (Golden Zone where tourists come) to street children and a few church kids of "Palabra Viva" (Living Word) that were renting space above some stores there and I heard them praising the Lord & praying. When I returned to stay longer, they had moved, because of the high rent and needing more space, and I could not find their new location and that's what happens with many of the churches using rental space here.

To read more about the Orphanages that Tres Islas supports please go herehttp://www.orphanagefunds.org/Tres_Islas_Orphanage_Funds_Orphanages_Served_in_Mazatlan_Mexico.htm

I was fascinated about how the history of Tres Islas Orphanage Fund was started but will share at another time since this is so long already. Be sure to visit the other participants and see the variety of "missions" that God instills in us to be used to further His Kingdom.

When I visit different blogs, especially new blogs, I try to encourage and invite people to link to Mission4Monday because of what I've read. I hope that if you see a post that should link, you would do the same. It does not have to be rewritten just linked here.

I pray that all of you will take the time to visit this very special one that calls for our action for a special hero that needs support & prayer as Christians and American citizens we should do:

I pray that one day I can say( for my husband, my kids, or my friends):

I feel quite sure if I did my bestI could maybe impress youWith tender words and a harmonyA clever rhyme or two

But if all I've done in the time we've sharedIs turn your eyes on meThen I've failed at what I've been called to doThere's someone else I want you to see

[CHORUS]Will you love Jesus moreWhen we go our different waysWhen this moment is a memoryWill you remember His faceWill you look back and realizeYou sensed His love more than you did beforeI'd pray for nothing lessThan for you to love Jesus more

I'd like to keep these memoriesIn frames of gold and silverAnd reminisce a year from nowAbout the smiles we've sharedBut above all else I hope you will comeTo know the Father's loveWhen you see the Lord face to face

The cold water sprayed over the crowd in front of the Indonesian village mosque. Gun-toting, white-clad jihad warriors surrounded the place. The ritual washing was a forced preparation for the group to convert to Islam. The crowd knew that they would convert or be shot or beheaded on the spot.

The young girl wept for her faith, because she imagined the ritual washing would reverse her faith. She didn’t know that her faith in Christ was in her soul, despite what happened to her body. She also wept out of fear, for she knew that she would be circumcised, along with all the other men, women, and children in the group. The forced circumcision was their final act of taking on a new religion. She didn’t want a new religion, and she cried out to God.

Indonesia used to be a haven of tolerance. Though the nation is home to more Muslims than any other nation in the world, there was little trouble. Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists lived side-by-side, working together with little animosity.

That has changed. Radical Muslims have dragged the nation into jihad, or holy war, and every Christian is a target. Many recite the Muslim creed just to save their lives; yet in their hearts, they cry out to God, knowing only He can offer salvation.

People attempt to change us from the outside in. But only God can change us—from the inside out. Before we come to Christ, we often try to fit into the world’s standards for our lives and lose sight of our real selves. We are forced to become people we were never meant to be. However, once God changes people from the inside out, they are changed forever. We cannot be moved. We cannot be changed back into our old selves. Like the girl in this story discovered, others can influence us and exercise some degree of control over us. But they can no longer change us like Christ has already done. Have you experienced the “change” the Bible teaches?

What are your feelings after reading this Extreme Devotion?

Posted by Stacy L. Harp in Extreme Devotion

We must stand in prayer daily for those being persecuted for Christ's sake and nations in the 10-40 Window!

Most of the people groups still unreached by the gospel live in places stretching across the maps of northern Africa and Asia. Christian missions strategist Luis Bush started calling this rectangular area or band: "the 10/40 window." He used that easy-to-remember name because it lies across Africa and Asia from 10 degrees latitude north of the equator to 40 degrees latitude north of the equator.WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE UNREACHED? Read "what"here !

In other words it had many issues of HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH and of the ones, I've listed above someone near and dear to me has been touced by these issues & concerns.

My life has been impacted by all of the above personally and some of the other ones in the Health link also.

There was even a MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK from October 5th-11th and you know what...I was NOT made AWARE of most of these at all. What shocks me is that is how it is with many of the LIFE MISSIONS we may have and do not share.

Our LIFE MISSION is to SHARE JESUS every month all year long, not just Christmas or Easter. Many of us started our BLOGS to share JESUS with non-believers and we are just reaching others with our same interests. Now this is not to invalidate ALL the good that is being done in Jesus Name within this Body of Christ or our sisterhood / brotherhood but WE ARE MADE for A MISSION and have a LIFE MESSAGE to be sharing with others who are not aware. Perhaps we need a CHRIST AWARENESS MONTH but I believe it is every day, every week, every year, everywhere!!!

When I came across some of these AWARENESSes for OCTOBER in various new blogs, I invited the blogger to come share. There are Bloggers out there sharing their concerns and some have shared here. I, myself, had other intentions, when I started this post for MISSION4MONDAY.

WELCOME TO MISSION 4 MONDAY!

Last week I mentioned that I would like to share in the future about PROJIMO but

I decided since I had not yet visited there personally that I should wait.

So I came to write that between now and Thanksgiving, I had a different mission, (which I will share at the end) but the Holy Spirit took over and the above was written. Perhaps He wants me to share on the people I know that live daily with the above health issues. I paused and prayed about who, what, how, why...and have decided just to post a photo of some of the people and say nothing about them, only who they are to me and which AWARENESS impacts their life, except the one about me, which I will only share briefly.

I shared about this a few times on my main blog but it was buried or overlooked. The reason I guess I am sharing it now, is because the first step to recovery has always been admitting that you have a problem. You cannot start healing until you can admit that you are powerless & only God is in control. For years, I ran away from this health issue, denying it and the problems that it created in my life.

I believe the biggest reason is the stigma that society puts on people with mental health issues. My own husband had told me for years that we did not have problems with our marriage, but that I was the problem. I never fully grasped what he meant.

I figured since I was the problem, I would get the help and I had my fair share of seeking worldly help. I determined in my own mind that the Lord, my God is My HEALER. There's a long story behind this that I will spare you all the details.

I do not have an official diagnosis though I know that I suffered various forms of depressions(clinical) and was treated for them and under proper medical supervision. I imagine it's in my medical records. But my husband (who is not a medical doctor but an educator and has been on various mental health committees) tells me that I have bipolar disorder.

Last year, I finally came to agree with that diagnosis while reading about it with David Oliver, who is doing research and has a business/newsletter he sends out daily. Then since becoming a blogger, I encountered Nancie, from MORE THAN CONQUERORS and many of the blog friends she has listed, as well as the many excellent resources. Needless to say, I finally came to terms with it.

[PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT & PRAY FOR NANCIE, she is readjusting bit by bit and taking a somewhat gradual return to blogging but she usually links here with excellent info but has to watch her amount of visits and blogging for right now. But let's not forget her.]

The reason I share this is because since leaving home in Minnesota, going back & forth to here in Mexico since 1995, I have not had serious problems with this because I know myself and my limits. I have years of learning how to deal and cope while functioning well.

I have paced myself and do what God enables me to do. When you are in your mania stage (the high end), you can be very productive and energetic, taking on more than you should. This stage is also where you can behave very improperly and make quite a mess of your life. You can exhibit all the worse qualities if unchecked or you are able to do multi-tasking and accomplish much.

This past spring, I tried to share this information with my dear friend here, who is the wife of the pastor of one of the sweetest family churches I know here, where I find the most comfort, because I felt she knew me the best. She had seen all the good I was capable of and never seen me in my low moments. Obviously it was not effective or understood. I let it go. But I gave her an article in Spanish to read. As most Christians believe, she felt it was perhaps spiritual but certainly something God could heal. And so do I!

Then this August and September, something occurred that triggered panic attacks & a mild depression. At first, I was over tired and then fatigued for no real reason and thought it had to do with having driven to the border and back (1,500 miles) but as I was not able to sleep, then my eating & drinking was out of whack...it finally dawned on me. I had the warning signals and the symptons, I just did not recognize them at first.

Many people have been praying for me without even knowing how much prayer I really needed or for what, but God knows. I only mention this, at a great risk to my credibility, not as an excuse but for better understanding of how very dependent I am on OUR LORD, who leads me through the valleys over and over again to the top of the mountain. Also, to THANK YOU all for encouraging me and keeping me in your prayers.

It is hard enough to deal with a mental illness when you are home with your personal medical help and support, but when you are in a foreign country, with none of this and unable to drive yourself home, you are faced with dealing with it the best you can with God's unfailing love, mercy, forgiveness, wisdom, direction and continual healing, grounding you in HIS WORD & HIS VICTORY to overcome while you thrive & strive to wellness once more. You truly learn to hold on to HIS PROMISES in HIS WORD that are DAILY MANNA to your spirit & soul!

This is a very important issue of HEALTH AWARENESS especially to know your self, your own weaknesses and your own strengths but also the necessity to seek medical help and begin a wellness plan for the temple of the Holy Spirit & the mind of Christ.

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses,

in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;...

1 Corinthians 6:19

...who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

Philippians 3:21

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights...

Psalm 18:33 & 2 Samuel 22:34

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.'

OUR GOD IS SO AWESOME!!!

HERE are the people in my life that share in those listed above for AWARENESS in October:

*May God help us be more aware and share with others HIS SON JESUS & these issues!

from the movieFIREPROOF! From last Friday until Thanksgiving! Come join us!

It is written for spouses, but it is my belief that it can be used for anyone who you need to dare to LOVE more and perhaps is a challenge...just apply the principles of The Love Dare. Start at home and then the world in which you live.

Monday, October 13, 2008

I just learned that last week, October 5th - 11th, wasWORLD ORPHAN WEEK (WOW)from a new blog I discovered today of an author, Ann Dunagan.Her books include: The Mission-Minded Child, Hand Commands, and The Mission-Minded Family and her blog is:

I'm sure that this is why God put this on my heart so strongly last week to share aboutRANCHO de los Niños with Rick & Janet Norquist. I wrote this even before the meeting on Friday.In Mazatlan, there are different places that care for children, like orphanages but none have touched my heart like this and PROJIMO. (I will be sharing about them in the future). Perhaps, it's because my mission here started with Children back in 1996, and I know that I am not equipped to handle working with the children that these people bless. Emotionally, I'm just not able to deal with it. Yet, I still love all these children so much and prayer for workers & hearts like these! May God bless

RANCHO DE LOS NIÑOS

On Friday, Hands Across the Border, had a meeting and this was the featured topic with RickNorquist as the speaker. Since Rancho de Los Ninos has their own site which says ALL RIGHTS RESERVED & I respect that I prefer you read the information at their website(so that is why I direct you there throughout this post).Rancho de Los Niñosis located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, directly east of Cabo San Lucas and about 15 kilometers south of Mazatlan. Taking I-15 south from Nogales, they are about 800 miles south of the border.They are right outside of Mazatlan on the way to the airport in El Castillo which means "The Castle".

Their Mission:

To share with children the love of Christ, the gift of salvation, and a home where they feel loved, welcomed, wanted, and worthy.

Because I have read their goals, I know that they honor God. Although they say the goals are simple, I see them as a challenge. So I truly believe people who serve in this way are truly gifted and precious servants of the Lord that serve with a heart like HIS! Here are their goals:1. to provide kids with a home where they feel loved, welcomed, wanted, and worthy,2. to show them how they can know Jesus as their Savior and Lord,3. and to find permanent families for our kids by

- reuniting them with their birth or extended families or- finding permanent homes for them in Mexico.- When these options are not possible, we look for adoptive homes for our children in the states.

How it all started from their page

February 14, 2004 Rick and Janet Norquist arrived in El Castillo, Mexico to minister to homeless children. Specifically, they started a Christian home for kids. There are many children who need a safe, nurturing home in the greater Mazatlan area and resources to meet their needs are limited.

Shortly after they arrived they began a couple of ambitious projects. The first project was to transform a chicken coop into a dormitory in order to accommodate work crews from the states who would come to assist them with special projects. It was designed with separate areas for men and women, complete with showers, toilets, running water, electricity, and enough bunk beds to accomodate up to 24 people. To read more please go to their site by clicking here:

http://ranchodelosninos.com/aboutus.aspx

What makes Rancho de los Niños unique is that they provide care for children with disabilities including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other developmental delays. Now this truly is a MISSION of the heart!

If you are unsure of sending or would like to know it's received by them, you could contact me and I'd be happy to receive & personally go there on your behalf.My email is mission4monday at gmail dot com and I will provide further information via email.

By viewing their website you will find that they have much information about Adoption, Mission trips or Crews, and their NEWSLETTERS tell you what is happening there by going here:

http://ranchodelosninos.com/newsletter.aspx

I realize that the economics of this time makes it difficult for many to give but if it's difficult for you, can you imagine how much more difficult it is on places like this that depend on financial support. Everyone is stretched and tightening on expenses but each of us can PRAY! I would ask you to prayerfully consider what you can do.

"...we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will...But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

2 Corinthians 8:1b-7

I lost part of what I had written here during my internet dilemma but you have the core of the information or choice to read more!

Nancie from More Than Conquerors usually shares on Mission4Monday. She is on break and so I am taking one of her earlier posts and linking it here. She wrote many valuable posts that not many read or left comments and I feel that she deserves input & comments for much of what she has shared so beautifully exemplifying her victories in Christ. I have read many and also this is true for many others that I see with good "mission" but they aren't linking -so if I read one, I usually ask the person if I can link their post. In Nancie's case, this time, I did not have the opportunity to ask her since she went on break while I was off line & concerned about Hurricanes, etc. My apologies, Nancie!

I do believe that all of us have something to share to benefit & minister to others. Please read each other's and if you notice a blog with a good "mission" encourage them to share on Mission 4 Monday. Thank you all for your faithful participation!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

I am sharing my entire newsletter from PROJECT RESCUE! What they have done for young women in India, Moldova, and other parts of the world is what God has placed in my heart for my vision of what I should be doing but not yet doing here in Mexico.

october 2008

Bringing Hope to Moldova

Home of HopeMoldovahas been a long-time coming, starting from an inward spark that found its culmination in a finished home and caring workers. The trafficking situation inMoldovais vastly different than the Homes in India or Nepal, yet the broken women are the same. Thousands of Moldovan women have been traffickedout of Moldova, yet only a small percentage ever find their way back home. Home of Hope Moldova is here for these women, a beautiful setting that can provide emotional and spiritual healing. ...Clickhereto read more about Project Rescue Moldova.

This time last year, Janet Kimani spent her days at school and her nights fighting with her little brothers over what to watch on the family's flickering TV set.

Now, she sleeps all day and sells her skinny, 14-year-old body at night for $3 an hour.

"There are so many of us girls on the streets these days," Janet, dressed in a black miniskirt and white blouse, toldThe Associated Pressin Eldoret, a western Kenya town that was a flash point of this year's deadly post electioncrisis. ...

... Although no firm figures are yet available, medical experts say they fear the increase in young prostitutes -- known here as "twilight girls" -- will undermine the country's recent gains in the fight againstAIDS. For the full story, clickhere.

A Time to Give!

The directors and staff of Project Rescue

know that growth is an essential part of the

transformation process. We are privileged

to see new life formed in the lives of women

and children every day.

We need you to partner with us for the

continued growth of Project Rescue to bring

life changing opportunities to women and

children rescued from the sex trafficking industry.

$30 per monthprovides living expenses

for a child's night care during work hours in the brothel.

$100 per monthprovides multifaceted care

for one survivor in a Home of Hope.

$10,000 contributionhelps develop

vocational training for one Project Rescue site.

Every day we join together with our

Project Rescue staff to bring the Good News

of the transforming power of Jesus to women

and girls rescued from sexual slavery

Send your contribution to:Project Rescue

P.O. Box 922Springfield, MO 65801

or call toll free to donate: 1-877-840-4800

Project Rescue's AGWM account # 6149520

.

"Our dream is to make people aware of their part in redeeming millions of girlsby the grace of God."- David Grant

As international speakers and lecturers at colleges, universities, major conferences,

and related events, David and Beth offer an array of personal stories and insightful

information along with encouragement and inspiration.

To host David, Beth or a Project Rescue team

member at your event, contactinfo@projectrescue.comor call1-866-862-0919for

DO THEY SEE JESUS IN ME?

*

We were ALL made for a mission...God has a unique purpose & plan for everyone.

ALL MONTH, Every Week, Every Day...it's a lifetime experience!

This is where we share MISSIONS that have been placed on our hearts or in our lives. For God has given each of us a purpose & a unique plan to fulfill.

If you are new to Mission4Monday, please click here for more info.

A very special thanks to those of you (you know WHO you are) that faithfully have posted a MISSION4MONDAY whether you remember to link or not I appreciate it and if you are a regular and I notice, I have been linking you to the LINKY!

You are welcome ALWAYS to leave in the current comments a link to anything you share MISSION wise.

Thank you for placing M4M button on your posts, I so appreciate it! YOU each have presented FABULOUS ideas weekly!

Nancie was a participant in the very beginning, but unable to currently blog actively. Yet she still has much good material to read in her previous posts along her sidebar of a worldwide health mission.

Mission 4 Monday sadly ended last year as a meme, but I continue to share here and I know others also share various MISSIONS, especially the people above. Check them out!!! Encourage and perhaps join us.

Since my life is a MISSION, I share whenever I can. There are many of you, who do community involvement/church events, volunteer opportunities or know missionaries that you could share to motivate others. Motherhood and Homeschooling are MISSIONS and callings!!!

Mission4Monday is no longer just a meme but my blog on MISSIONS

About Me

Born in St. Paul, MN. My home is in Stillwater, MN, but for the previous 20 years I lived in Mexico with my family of 3 dogs serving as led.
My REAL passion is JESUS Christ! I love the Mexican people, culture and Spanish language. I am living my Purpose Driven Life and have a vision of seeing God's children freed from injustices, poverty, hopelessness, and saved by the aMazing Grace of God!

Thank you ALL for participating when you were able & sharing your mission & heart with us!

I still believe that each one of us "were made for a mission" and an opportunity crosses our path each week to serve others as a MISSION. Open your eyes & see the needs around us!

I still believein the great value & worth of sharing MISSIONS!

I still believe that you do not have to be a missionary "sent out in the world" to be a missionary. Your home, your neighborhood, your community is filled with needs to be met with the passion & compassion of Jesus Christ. One day a week or month, take the time. It may be the first "short term" mission that God moves in you & touches others with His love.

I still believe"all" that Rick Warren shared in "The Purpose Driven Life" especially Purpose #5!WE WERE MADE FOR A MISSION!

I still believethat I will continue to share MISSIONS put on my heart right here.

"God has given you a Life Message to share..."

and I know that HE gave me a LIFE MESSAGE andI hope to share that through what I post here. I will continue to update on ministries as I have and those in my sidebar.

Tears of the Saints

I needed to remove the Vimeo because it says for PRIVATE USE! It's still worth seeing and all of the others available through Mission Mobilizer. It looks like "Tears of the Saints" is no longer available.

So I have replaced it with this song by Leeland & YouTube by lkittycat

IN THE PAST HOUR:

1625 children were forced to live on the streets

1667 children died from malnutrition or disease

115children became prostitutes

257 children were orphaned because of HIV/Aids.

It gets worse...

2 billion people in the world today have never ever heard of Jesus. 1% of missions financial support, goes to reaching those unreached people. 30,000 people starve to death every day.